How To Paint Window Frames & Trim: The No Tape Way
How To Paint Window Frames & Trim: The No Tape Way
Update any room by painting the window frame & trim without having to use any tape
Is there anything paint can’t fix?
No really, paint is my go to for adding character and dimension to a space, especially when I want to make a big impact on a little budget.
My latest painting victory is definitely our kitchen window!
We replaced this window during our kitchen renovation, we needed a larger window because we tore down the back wall to expand the kitchen.
The small window wasn’t enough for the now larger kitchen.
After we replaced the window, it sat pretty much untouched as we awaited cabinets and countertops.
Check out our brutally honest Lowes kitchen cabinet & countertop review here!
Finally, we have been making some serious progress on this space and I thought now was the perfect time to frame and paint the window!
Framing windows with fancy trim is kinda my jam y’all 😉
You can find my step by step tutorial for how to easily add fancy window trim here!
I have painted a lot of window trim but this was my first time painting the metal window frame too.
I did a ton of research leading up to this project and so I thought I would share the method that worked best for me.
How To Paint Window Frames & Trim
Supplies:
- Mask N Peel or Painters Tape
- Trim Brush
- Primer
- Enamel Cabinet Paint
- Box Cutter
Cleaning & Preparing The Window
After I got the new window trim up and sanded I was ready to start the painting process.
Start by removing all the dust and giving everything a really good cleaning.
For the metal window frame I cleaned it off using rubbing alcohol.
Once everything was good and clean I used Jasco Mask & Peel on the windows.
This is the no tape way to make sure you don’t get paint on the glass and it is amazing!
Use a cheap little paint brush to paint on a medium thick layer onto the glass next to the frame.
It is no much easier than having to create perfect tape lines, plus it dries really quick.
Priming
Once the Mask & Peel was dry I started priming the metal trim and wooden frame with this Zinsser Primer.
This is my favorite primer because you don’t need to sand and it works great on both metal and wood.
I primed both the metal frame and trim with one coat of primer each.
Normally I would get the primer tinted to a shade similar to what the final paint color will be but the paint department was having issues that day and I had a window to get home to 😉
It already looks so much better with just the primer coat on!
Caulking
I never caulked the window after I added the trim so I went ahead and did that here.
It’s usually a good idea to caulk before painting instead of after, but you can prime before you caulk!
If your caulk is starting to crack or just look old, this is a good time to remove it and lay a new bead.
Painting The Window Frame & Trim
Finally, onto the fun part, painting window trim black!
If you have been following along with us during our dream home renovation, you know I am a sucker for contrast.
I am in deep love with bold colors paired with neutrals, especially black.
Black is bold, timeless, and on the contrary to what a lot of people think, it actually makes spaces feel larger.
So for the kitchen window I went with New Black by Valspar, which is the same color we chose for our DIY arched built-in bookcases.
I used the Cabinet & Furniture Enamel paint because I wanted the smoothest possible finish on the metal frame.
Plus the enamel makes it more durable and scratch resistant.
I painted both the trim and frame with this paint, being very careful to not overly coat the inside of the frame.
You don’t want it to be overloaded with paint or the window will not open when everything dries… trust me.
I gave everything two coats and let it dry completely before moving on.
Removing The Mask & Peel
Once the window was dry I scoured the edges of the Mask & Peel with a box cutter.
Then, you simply start at one corner and pull it away from the window.
Any excess that is left can be cleaned up with a scraper easily.
Y’all I am in deep love with how this window turned out!
It is the perfect contrast to our white cabinets and really accents the gold hardware well.
Painting window trim black is a bold move that is completely worth it.
We still have a long list of projects for this kitchen renovation, but this already makes the space feel more finished!
Did you paint all the trim or just that one window?
Hi Maria! I painted the window and French doors black in that room.
Hi I’m wondering how this has held up? Do the windows stick when you open or close them? Have they peeled? My windows are new and don’t know if this would be the best method to try and paint them
Hi Janett! We have had this done for over a year now and no peeling or sticking so far!
Do you happen to know how it would work on the outside of the window??
Like if you wanted to paint the outside of the window? I think it would work perfectly fine I would just opt for an exterior version of enamel paint.